CLEMSON - A new $10 million capital campaign for the Clemson baseball program kicked off Sunday night.

Bob Mahoney, Associate Executive Director of IPTAY, made the announcement to the more than 550 fans gathered on campus at Jervey Gym for the team's annual preseason barbecue dinner. The school is expected to make an official announcement in the near future.

The campaign comes on the heels of the completion of fundraising for the second stage of football's West End Zone project, which totaled $27 million. Construction on the second phase could begin as early as late March.

The money raised for the baseball program will go to a number of projects, including:

- Additional seating, both down the leftfield line and bleachers behind the leftfield wall;

- A new practice field, located behind the batting cages in right field;

- A student-athlete center for the baseball players, which will include an upgrade to the lounge, showers, locker rooms. It will also serve as a place to recognize former Clemson baseball standouts.

Other improvements and donor-recognition opportunities will also be involved, as well as a more prominent display for the Clemson baseball Hall of Fame inductees.

The new lights at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, which were mandated by the NCAA for television purposes, have already been installed were the first priority of the campaign. Those were paid for thanks to a private donation of $300,000.

Clemson opens the 2008 season at home this Friday, beginning a three-game series with Mercer. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.